Hits Since April 2010

Saturday, April 24, 2010

While in Nashville, I got a chance to do several photoshoots alongside Sarah Barlow and my fellow interns. Our first official shoot was of a wonderful up and coming country singer, Alison Parson. Alison was super fun and there is so much more to her than all of that beauty. She was extremely down to earth and I believe she has a second calling in modeling. She made our job almost TOO easy! Aside from looks and personality, Alison is also a phenomenal musician. She has some wonderful oppurtunities coming up for her and I cannot wait to see her at the top of the charts! Check her music out HERE.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Sometimes the worst things stumble upon you at the worst times....On my flight home from Nashville, my mind was racing with all of my plans for the future. I had it all mapped out...what equipment I was going to buy next...where all of my money was going...what I was going to spend the next week doing. I had no idea that I had terrible news awaiting me that would change a lot of these plans.

While I was at my internship, my 9 month old puppy Albert got very sick. My parents became concerned when the normally hyper lil' guy laid down and refused to get up and also refused to eat ANYTHING. They decided to take him to the vet immediately. When they got there, Albert was given some tests and the vet confirmed their worst fears...Albert has parvo. They were given the choice to take him home and care for him, if the very high vet expenses were out of the question,but where his chances of survival would be very slim or leave him at the hospital where his chances of living were much higher. To my relief they left him with the vet. To not spoil my trip, my family waited to tell me about Albert until I got home on Tuesday. I was extremely upset and automatically assumed the worst, that he would not live. All of my close friends and family know how close I am to him. He is like my child. Everywhere I go, I look forward to coming home to him greeting me at the door. I was devastated when I realized that this would not be the homecoming I would receive this time...

For those of you who are unfamiliar with parvo, it is a very very ugly disease that affects many dogs and is especially volatile in puppies. The virus progresses extremely fast, is very contagious and can kill dogs within days who do not receive treatment. If your dog is acting lethargic and is vomiting and/or having diarrhea, I HIGHLY suggest you get them to a vet immediately. My parents' quick reaction to Albert's illness may be the factor that saves his life.

There is no doubt that I chose the most expensive route and it is a very controversial subject. (although my parents brought him in, he is my dog so I will be responsible for all expenses, as well as some help from my boyfriend, Andrew) I know many people who think I am crazy and would never consider spending so much on an animal. But for me..there was no decision to make. (I completely understand that in many situations, the money really just is NOT available. I have so much respect for people who do what they can for their pets and I totally understand that the limit varies from family to family)His life means SO much more to me than any material possession and I will do whatever I can to help him. Even if he were not able to pull through, I would sleep well at night knowing I did everything I could and cared more about him than the green in my wallet. When the end comes, you can't take your money with you...or all the things you bought with it. Agree or Disagree, this is where I stand.

Albert has now been at the vet since Sunday. It's been 6 nerve-wracking, LONG, expensive, miserable days...but his condition is very slowly improving. He is fighting a new strain of parvo that is stronger and tougher than the others, but he IS fighting. If things keep at the same pace he should be home within the next couple days. Because parvo is so unpredictable, nothing is for sure and things could change at any minute, but I have faith that he will pull through.

The hardest thing about this struggle has been keeping the right mindset. No doubt, I have been praying non-stop and asking God to heal Albert, but not until recently have I actually been able to see him coming back home. As a defense mechanism, most people tend to prepare for the worst in bad situations, but through this experience I have learned to never underestimate the power of positive thinking. I keep remembering a wonderful sermon I listened to with Sarah Barlow and the interns.(Ironically we listened to this as Albert was showing his first signs of sickness! I truly believe I was meant to hear it.) The message was to trust in God in all situations and BELIEVE in his power. You have to train your mind to think the right way and truly believe. The key to getting through this is having more faith in God's ability to heal Albert than in parvo's ability to kill him.

I hope to report good news the next time I blog, things are looking up but he still needs your prayers! Please pray for my boy and his complete recovery. Here are a few photos of him around Christmas time. We love you Albert! And can't wait to bring you back home, keep fighting!!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

As I am writing this, I am filled with happy thoughts of the amazing time I have had over the last 8 days. This past week, Sarah Barlow opened up her home to me and 3 other photography interns to show us the ropes and help us improve our businesses. These 6 days were spent working on our websites, shooting techniques, pricing, branding and SO much more! The whole experience was nothing short of life changing. Sarah took us under her wing to teach us every skill we would need to run a profitable and successful photography business. Not only did I learn what I came for, but she managed to pack in a ton of knowledge I didn't even know existed. All of this knowledge would have taken me years to discover without her guidance! I feel so excited/nervous/anxious as I step out into this new stage of my life. I am ready to take my business to the next level and am confident that I will use the knowledge Sarah has given me to meet all the new challenges that will come this year. I fully believe that in this next year I will be able to accomplish the things that, a year ago, were only a faint dream in the very distant future.I am so sad that the internship has already passed and that my days in Nashville have come to a close...but I will be back soon! All of the interns felt the inevitable deadline as the week was reaching the end. We had a mutual agreement that none of us had ANY desire to leave. But unfortunately Mama Barlow kicked us out of the nest, and now the true test comes! It's time for us to fly.What I didn't expect from the internship was to form such strong bonds with the wonderful fellow interns and Sarah. I would like to introduce the 4 amazing girls I spent 24/7 with. I miss you all so much already and I hope our paths cross in the near future!!

KAY-(A.K.A. Luscious Kay/Special Kay)Kay is such a fun person! She was a bit quiet the first couple days and I honestly think it's because she thought I was INSANE!! haha. She was right.... But after the first few days Kay came out of her shell. The funniest thing about me and Kay is whenever I thought no one was looking and I decided to do a strange dance move or something of the sort...I would hear some laughing and I would look over my shoulder to see her laughing at me! She has a radar for catching me in my most awkward moments, which was...quite often. Haha. Kay, you are such a warm-hearted individual and an amazing photographer!I miss you and can't wait to see what you accomplish, Keep in touch :)View Kay's blog HERE.

MEGAN-(A.K.A. Lil' Smelly)Okay first off, I don't want you to get the wrong idea, Megan smells just fine! We all got our gangster names from a very strategic game of Apple Sauce....I know, I know, you have NO idea what I am talking about...but just try to go along with it. Well Megan is the cutest thing ever! At only 16 she is already overflowing with talent and will surely blow you away. We had a blast together and I hope she comes out to visit me very very soon. Megan, you are doing amazing! You are starting out at such a young age and your career is very promising. Keep working at it and take it all in one day at a time. Give yourself some credit, you got talent Girl!View Megan's blog HERE.

SHANNON-(A.K.A. Sha'Cheezy)My fellow Californian! And partner in the old folks home! Me and Shannon bonded from day one, when Kay and Megan announced that they claimed the beds with the amazing view of Nashville and we would be sleeping in the other room with NO windows. Thanks guys...haha. We blame it on the fact that we are from California AND that we were the oldest, therefore our room was named: The Old Folks Home. There were many restless nights that me and Shannon stayed awake in the old folks home laughing and messing with ridiculous apps on my Droid. I have to say it was a GREAT time!!! I cant believe I actually was fooled into thinking Shannon was normal at first...by day 4 I could see that she is as crazy as I am. I will never forget when she held a knife over me and asked if I thought it was funny!!!!(and it really was). Shannon, I can't wait to shoot weddings together! I wish the distance between us was less, but I can't complain because it could be alot further. I know I will be seeing you very soon and please give Pimp Daddy my best wishes!! I think it goes without saying that your talent for photography is unending and I expect to see you at the top very soon.View Shannon's blog HERE.

SARAH BARLOW-(A.K.A. Mama Beezy Soft)Sarah, you are so amazing!! It takes a very special person to bring 4 strangers into your home for a week and teach them everything you have worked so hard to learn. All I can say is that I am SO grateful that you do! The internship is an amazing program and I hope you continue to do them for a very long time and NEVER underestimate the many ways you are impacting the lives of the girls you are teaching. You are a woman of very strong faith and I think I speak for everyone when I say that your love of the Lord inspires us all! You have been blessed in so many ways and you never take it for granted. I love how dedicated you are to giving back and the way you truly care for others. It is not often that I come by a person as genuine as you are! I really just want to tell you how much you have changed the future of my business with everything you taught me during the internship. I am forever grateful! I will never forget my time in Nashville with you and the other interns! Thanks for all the memories and the push I needed to make my dreams a reality. Oh...and for letting me borrow your dress for the bio shoot! I love you and I will definately be back before the end of the year!!!View Sarah's blog HERE.

Here are some random photos re-capping some of our adventures...View from Sarah's place at the Icon...Amazing?!

I will close this post out with a few inside jokes for Sarah and the fellow interns...these are some things I hope we never forget!!!-Sarah-isms-Hummus for days....-Albino Bat-Candy canes, Sunflower seeds and a VERY recent photo of Sarah Barlow.-Apple Sauce-Christy ;)-The "Are You Serious?" song-The Frightening Poodles-Eleanor, Hector, Trent, Amelia, Evelyn, and Carl.